How many alcoholic drinks do you consume each day?
For those who have a new habit of drinking alcohol each night… be aware of how alcohol is a metabolic toxin.
I was working on Nutritional Therapy Assessments for clients and I am finding this question a common one:
Do you drink alcohol each week?
- Three (servings) times a week (0 points)
- Seven times a week (2 points)
- Fourteen or more per week (3 points)
Most people I know have a drink or two every night… that would be 14 servings/glasses of alcohol per week!
Here is what my “Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective” book says (#86):
- Alcohol is a metabolic toxin
- Over consumption can lead to irritation of the gut wall lining (GI tract) – leading to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome) which allows unwanted substances to move from the digestive tract into the bloodstream (hello chronic inflammation and how most chronic health diseases start!)
- A leaky gut can cause allergies as the unwanted material is absorbed through the hyper-permeable digestive tract (leaky gut) stimulates the IMMUNE SYSTEM!
- Regular use of alcohol can impact your brain chemistry as well as refined sugars, flours, and certain drugs – interfering with receptors in the brain for neurotransmitters and leading to mood swings and cravings.
- LIVER is of course impacted with alcohol – as it takes the liver EIGHT HOURS to detoxify ONE drink (one measurement of alcohol).
- Other items that need to detoxify via the liver are “put on hold” as alcohol takes priority to filter.
- Drinking daily (two glasses per night) can lead to long term health complications, but varies per person as:
- Intestinal dysbiosis
- Leaky gut
- Blood sugar abnormalities/dysregulation
- Reactive hypoglycemia
- Multiple mineral-vitamin deficiencies
- Sub clinical liver dysfunction
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Liver disease and damage
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Alcohol is high in calories and little nutritional value
An occasional glass of wine or cocktail won’t cause harm for most of us, but overuse or over consumption (more is better philosophy) does impact the WHOLE you from the inside out including a congested liver, damaged gut, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies.
Perhaps you are unaware of your new habit you created with our crazy stressful world we are in this year but now is the time (especially before the holidays begin) to get control of your habits and take ownership.
More is not always better. Sometimes LESS is more beneficial!
Take a moment to reflect during a nature walk, hike, run, bike, or journal session to understand your WHY. Then go a little deeper, as peeling the layers of an onion off to discover more.
Are you struggling with stress in your life and you don’t know how to relax anymore?
Perhaps you can make a list of activities or hobbies that can replace that nightly alcoholic beverage or two.
Even though it is darker earlier and the days are shorter…plus your weather may not be ideal to go outside but picking up the phone to Facetime a friend or family member is a healthy alternative or do a yoga class on YouTube. Or make a non-alcoholic beverage as soda water with squeezed lemon.
Reach out if you have questions on how you can burn fat, optimize your health and improve your performance in LIFE as this is the time of all times to take care of the WHOLE you with “The WHOLESTIC Method” eight elements as well as my individualized health detective coaching program.
Discover how to get started with a complimentary coaching call with me here.
In Health and Gratitude,
Coach Debbie
Debbie Potts
Health & Fitness Coach, Author, & Speaker
Host of ‘The Low Carb Athlete’ Health Building Podcast
‘The WHOLESTIC Method’ Coaching Program
FNTP, FDNP, NASM CPT, CHEK HLC, Kion Coach
BURN FAT. OPTIMIZE HEALTH. IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.
